Magic Knight Rayearth

The story of Magic Knight Rayearth starts when three girls, Hikaru, Umi and Fuu are suddenly
transported from Tokyo Tower to the magical world of Cephiro. There they learn, that they are
to become the legendary Magic Knights in order to save the princess and all of Cephiro.

What at first seems like a standard (but well executed) story set in a RPG world, with the
characters learning their new abilities, getting better equipment and fighting enemies,
becomes something very different by volume 3. I certainly did not see the ending coming.

Volume 4 starts a new story line, this time the Magic Knights are trying to help Cephiro fight
off its invading neighbors. But the more the storyline advances, the more it becomes clear that
the real story is how the girls learn to cope with the turn of events in volume 3.

The 6th and final volume has a big surprise waiting again.

So even if this might seem like "CLAMP-light" at the beginning, go out and read it.
The story is quite a ride, and should leave you breathless too.